Pressure relay



April 4, 1961 P. M. SUGLI@ ET AL 2,977,968

PRESSURE RELAY 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1958 E w f w 1 7. u a uk@ uf mm m . ...Hlmul LAD vApril 4, 1961 P. M. sTlGLlc E'rALy 2,977,968

' PRESSURE RELAY Filed April 29, 1958 2 shams-sheet 2 .LL/E ZID-.P5

Pau! M. SI15/c .erally `improved pneumatic controlfrelay. Y

.A- still further object of the invention is `to provide a PRESSURE-RELAY Y Paull M. 'Stiglic, Wicklifle, and Daniei I. Shramo, Willoughby, Ohio, assignors to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., a corporation of Ohio The present invention relates to 4.improvements in `pressure relays, and'more particularly to a relay which receives Ya pneumatic input `signal and produces a control signal which .is a proportional :plus an integral function of the .inputsignal Remote controllers are in general use in many environments, suchfas inmanufacturing plants for producing a signal output control in response to an input control at a remote location. `Controls have `been used which produce an output signal which is a proportional as Well as an integral function of an input signal.

The advantages of .pneumatic controls are useful in many environments, such astor high temperature operation or operation in contaminated environments, such as where radiation is present. Pneumatic controllers are ,useful in industries where `it is economically feasible to vention to provide .an improved pneumatic relay withy adjustments which,l enable variance of the time constants.

and gain of the .integral output signal.

ited States Patent atented Apr. 4, i961 f, lC@

'2 ture of the valve iiapper of the mechanism ofFigure l;

Figure 3 is an elevational viewshowing one side of the control mechanism of Figure l, with parts broken away to illustrate details; and,

Figure 4 is agraph illustrating pressure change plotted against time for the different chambers of the mechanism of Figure l.

As shown in the drawings:

A `pneumatic relay assembly structure is illustrated in Figure l with arelay 6 connected to control a load `8. The relay 6 includes a housing 10 which vdefines a tirst chamber 12 therein. Within the rst chamber l12 is produced a pressure .that vis utilized as the output `or control signal .for the relay.

An operating `air ysupply for the relay .is furnished through an .inlet tube 14 which terminates in aninlet orifice 16 within the chamber 12. The inlet tube 14 is zsecured within an opening 18 in the wal-l ofthe casing substantially constant pressure Ps. v

Leading from the chamber 12is aneXhaust or an out let tube 2t) which has atits inner end an outlet orilice 22 leading from the chamber .12. The outlet orilice 22 yis positioned opposite to rand in spaced relationship to the inlet -oriice 16 for simultaneous control of the ow through these orifices. The outlet tube `20 discharges into the `arnbientair .at a pressure Pa, and is mounted in an opening in the wall .of thev casing 10.

Thecasing 10 is shown as beingsomewhat cylindrical in shape withan annular wall 24, .Figures l and 3, `and the annular wall 24 .tapers to a boss 26 at one end. AAn

Accordinglyit is van vobject ofthe present invention to provide an improved pneumatic relay which is capable .of producing an 'output signal which is both a proportional `function and antintegral function of an .input signal.

Another=object or" thevinvention'is to ,provid-e a gen- ;pneumatic .relay which willprovide an output signal as Van integralfunctionl of aninputsignalwhereinsthe output may be adjustably controlled.

:signal,whereinftherelay basan improved followuplsignal larrangement;y i

Afurtbertobject-ofthe-invention is .to pprovide ga; pneu- 1 .matic 1'relay of ,improved'frrrechanicalstructural features .l aforsimplifiedatand improved manufacture ,and assembly fandfo"r=reduetiohinmahutacturingrcosts.

u invention;` 1 Wt,ensubstntiallyalong Vluie Ilf- I of A`tgure "1.; andiillustratingtheygeneral strucp i opening 28 .extends through the -boss .,2-6 for accommodating the location `of the inlet and outlet milices-16 and 22. A :plate 30 .isbolted over .the..opening, such as `by tbolts 32 .extending in .thecasing Ateachsideof-the vtrolled-bya movable control valve member V42 which is ,illustrated intheform of `a .pivotal apper plate. i

As .illustrated in VFigures land 2, the .valve member ,42,is supportedon brackets .44 and 46, which'are secured to project downwardly from .bosses ,48.and 50, projecting into ,the chamber 12 ffrom the wall24 into theopening 28 .in ft-he wall. and ,54.

.The .brackets tare supported by bolts Y52 At thelower ends of ,the brackets144-and-46 are yadjustable'pivot'screWsSandSS vwhich are threaded into the brackets fand .which have .pivot points 60: and 62 extending into conical recesses ,in thesides of the valve member 42. .The l.valvemember 42 is thus :suspended 'for free Vpivotal.;movement so.that'the upper .ilat end 64 canmove `freely ,between the inlet and outletorilices* 16 and ,22 to 4controlfthe':iiow therethrough., t t

` ".The valve memberis moved bylateral forces appliedV f atlthelowertend..tocause it itozpivot.v Attheflowertend v .ofthe valve.member.dl'ait-isbroadened' and 'formed with a rectangular-opening 66. Extending through Vthe sides of the ,rectangleare pivot `pins.-` efand, 70 ghavingfconically f .ppinted .tips 7.2; and Y lftfto iproject into .conical f recesses n a,pivotal{block .76. The block-lis thus. mounted;forlaa if minimum of frictional,resistance jsov gthat ,lateral .forces LQI'I the black will rivm the yal-vmsrhber. :dapper '.42-

The block 76 has a threaded opening 78 extending through the center to receive bellows pins 80 and 82 which are screwed into the block 76.

Bellows pin 80 is mounted on a first bellows 84 and also on a second bellows 86.

The bellows 84 has a rigidwall part 88 with a threaded boss 90 at the center to receive the bellows pin 80. At

' the edge of the circular wall 88 is an annular eXpansible wall 92 of the bellows, which is preferably formed from opposed welded together conical washers. These washers -will not have the hysteresis loss'encountered with conventional bellows. The eXpansible wall 92 is anchored at its base on an annular ring 94 which is clamped by the bolts 38 which hold the plate 34 to the side of the casing.

The bellows 86 is nested within the bellows 88 and includes a circular bellows wall 96 attached at its edge to an annular flexible bellows wall 9,8, which issecured at its base to an annular ring 100. The ring 100 supports the bellows by also being clamped by the bolts 38. The inner nested bellows 86 forms a second chamber 102 between the bellows and the plate 34. At the center of the plate 34 is formed a passage 104 for connecting a conduit or the like to expose the second chamber 102 to an input signal pressure. A signal pressure Pi is directed into the chamber 102. The input pressure Pz' will usually be a static pressure and can be a pressure from a fluid having a minimum or low iiow with the relay producing an output pressure P0, which is in accurate response to the input pressure Pi, and which provides a pressure of increased operating capacity. The input p-ressure signal Pz' may be obtained from a transmitter controller or a relay and produces an output pressure signal Po, which is a proportional plus an integral control response. The response is also adjustable to vary the rate of integration or time constant.

A third chamber 106 is defined between the two nested bellows 84 and 86. Inasmuch as the walls 88 and 96 of the two bellows are of different area, with other pressures remaining static, an increase in pressure in the third chamber 106 will cause an expansion of the interconnected bellows or a movement to the right of the bellows pin 80. A reduction in pressure in the third chamber 106 will cause a contraction of the bellows or a movement of the bellows pin 80 to the left, as shown in Figure 1. The principle of this action caused by the difference in size of the bellows attains the integral output pressure.

With an increase in signal pressure in the chamber 102, the nested bellows unit moves to the right, as shown in Figure l, thereby moving the valve fiapper or member `42 in a direction so that its upper end 64 moves to the left to increase the pressure in the first chamber 12. The pressure in the chamber is measured through an output flow signal passage 10S, which extends through the wall of the casing 6 and permits the output pressure signal Po to be transmitted to the load 8.

The Yincrease in pressure is transmitted from thelfrst chamber 12 to the third chambert106 through a positive feedback conduit 110 which is shown schematically in' Figure l, and shown as structurally related to the mechanism in Figure 3. As the pressure increases in the first 'chamber 12, it will also increase in the third chamber ytiow through"` the valve 112 will control the rate of in- :tegration or time constantk of the change ofthe output signal Po relative to the input signal Pi." Thus, Ythe 'second bellows 8,6 will cause a change in pressure in the first chamber 12 which is proportional to the input signal lfrom the inlet orifice 16, and toward the outlet orifice 22 of the input pressure Pi.

and the action of the nested bellows 84 and 86 will cause the output pressure Po to be an integral function of the input pressure Pi.

This action may be observed by viewing the graph of Figure 4. In the graph, pressure is plotted against time. At a time X, the input pressure is increased as illustrated by the upper line Pi. This creates a substantially immediate increase in the first chamber to cause Po to rise. From the time X, P remains constant but the flow continues to increase as an integral function. This is indicated by the solid line Po. Since the rate of integration or time constant is variable, output pressures for a time period such as indicated by the line P'o can be obtained by opening the valve 112 to increase the rate. `Vith a decreased rate, such as is achieved by closing the valve, an output pressure response over a period of time. such as indicated P"o may be achieved. It will be recognized that rates in between these ranges may be readily achieved by changing the opening of the valve 112. lf the valve 112 is completely closed, the output pressure will only be a proportional function of the input pressure, and the graph line Po will be horizontal and parallel to the graph line Pi.

. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a negative feedback signal is supplied to the relay to terminate the integrated increase of output pressure Po. This is achieved `by supplying a feedback pressure in accordance with the action of the load.

As may be seen in Figure 1, the output pressure P0 is supplied through a line 116 to the load, which acts in accordance with the output pressure signal and which will generate a feedback signal at a pressure Pf, and transmit it to line 118 back to the relay. For this purpose, within the relay casing is third bellows 120. This bellows has a circular rigid bellows wall 122 with an expansible annular wall 124, also preferably formed of opposed welded conical washers to avoid hysteresis losses. The flexible Iwall 124 is mounted at its base on an annular ring 126 which is sealingly secured within the casing 6 by circumferentially spaced bolts 127 threaded into the annular wall 24 of the casing. The third bellows defines a fourth chamber 128 within it, which is closed by the plate 36. A passage 130 is formed through the plate 36 for connecting the line 118 to transmit the feedback pressure signal to the chamber 128. As the feedback signal increases in accordance with the operation of the load 8, the bellows 120 will expand to transmit a force through the bellows pin 82 to the valve flapper 42 and stabilize it. This will cause the pressure line Po, as shown at 131 in Figure 4, to level oif and bring the relay to a stable position.

In summary, as the input pressure Pi increases, the pressure in the second chamber 102 increases to move the lower end of the valve tiapper 42 to the right, as shown in Figure l. This moves the upper end 64 away to increase the pressure in the rst chamber 12. This increase is a proportional function of the input pressure Pi, and is measured as Po through an outlet passage 108 leading from the first chamber 12. As soon as the pres sure increases in the first chamber 12, this pressure is fed through a feedback conduit 110 to the third chamber 106. At the third chamber, the nested bellows 84 and 86, which are of different size, will tend to move to the right with pressure increase. This will move the upper end of the valve apperstill further to the left, to fur- .ther increase the pressure in the chamber 12. As a result, the voutput pressure Po will be an integral function Y Therelation between the increased input pressure and the increased output pressure is shown in Figure 4. If the input pressure Pi is dropped,

it will ca'use an opposite effect to4 be encountered with ,the pressure in the first chamber dropping as a propor- *tionaljand an integral functionof the dropv in input pres- 76 sure Pi. The output pressure Po is supplied to a load 8,

and the load generates a feedback pressure Pf, which is supplied to the fourth chamber 128. This acts on the bellows 120, which acts in an opposite direction on the valve flapper to stabilize its movement and to terminate the integral change.

The output P0 of the pneumtaic controller is a proportional plus an integral control response of the error signal, which is (Pi-Pf). The proportional response is obtained froinPo feedback on the differential area of bellows'88 and 120; The integral response is obtained by feeding pressure Po into chamber 106.

Thus it will lbe seen that we have provided an'improved pneumatic relay or control which meets the objectives and advantages hereinbefore Vset forth. The mechanism is reliable in yoperation and is well suited to operation in locations wherein the advantages of av pneumatic -relay are important. s

We have, in the drawings and specification, presented a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of `our invention, and it is to be understood that We do not intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by our invention.

We claim as our invention:

l. A pneumatic relay comprising -a first chamber having an inlet orifice opening into the chamber and an outlet orifice opening from the chamber, a movable control valve member positioned to change the flow through the inlet vand the outlet orifices with movement, a second chamber having an inlet opening to receive an input pressure signal, a first movable wall exposed to the pressure in said first chamber, a second movable wall having one surface exposed to the pressure in said second chamber and being of an area less than said first wall, means foi-nung a third closed chamber between said walls, means interconnecting said first and second walls to said valve member whereby movement of the walls will change the pressure in said first chamber by moving said valve member in :a direction to cause a corresponding change ber having a movable wall connected to said valve member to move it in opposition to said first and second Walls, a feedback passage forleading from the load to supply a feedback pressure indicative of the response of the load to said output pressure signal, a passage communicating between said first and third chamber whereby change in pressure in said first chamber will cause a corresponding change in said third chamber and a progressive movement of the valve member due to the difference in areas in said first and second walls whereby the pressure in the first chamber will change as an integral function of the pressure change in the second chambenuntil the feedback pressure in the fourth chamber stops movement of the valve member, and an adjustable restricting valve in Vsaid'passage to selectively control the rate of flow therethrough whereby the time constant of the integrated rate of change in pressure in the first chamber is controlled. Y

3. A pneumatic relay comprising in combination a casing enclosing a first chamber therein, an inlet conduit having an inlet orifice opening into the first chamber, an outlet conduit having an outlet lorifice opening from the first chamber and spaced from and opposed to the inlet orifice, Va movable control valvevmember located within in pressure for the first'chamber, a signal outlet passage leading from the first chamber to a load to supply an output pressure signal, a fourth chamber having -a movable wall connected to said valve member to move it in opposition to said first and second walls,a feedback passage for leading from the loadto supply a feedback pressure indicative of the response of the load to said output pressure signal, and aypassage communicating between said first and third chambers whereby change in pressure in said first chamber will cause a corresponding `change in said,4 third chamber anda progressive moyement of .the valve member due to thedifference in areas in said first Iand second walls ,whereby the pressure in the first chamber will change as an integral function of the pressure change in the second chamber until the feedbackpressure in the fourthchamber stops movement of the valve member.

2. A pneumatic relay comprising a first chamber having an inlet orifice opening into the chamber and an outlet orifice opening from the chamber, a movable control valve member positioned to change the flow through the inlet and the outlet orifices with movement, a second chamber having an inlet opening to receive an Vinput pressure signal, a first movable wall exposed to the pressure in said first chamber, a second movable wall having one surface exposed to the pressure in said second chamber and being of an area less than said first wall, means forming a third closed chamber between 'moving said valve member in a direction to cause a corresponding change in pressure for the first chamber, a signal outlet passage leading from the first chamber to a load to supply an output pressure signal, a fourth chamthe first 'chamber and ,movable between said orifices to simultaneously control the -ow therethrough, a first bellows having a movable wall exposed to the first chamber, a second bellows located substantially concentric with the first bellows and nested therein and forming a second chamber lwithin the second bellows, said second bellows having a wall and forming a third chamber between said first and second bellows, means mechanically connecting the walls of said rst and second bellows to the valve member whereby changes in pressure in said chambers will cause movement of the bellows and corresponding movement of the valve member, an inlet passage leading into said second chamber for admission of a pressure signal, a conduit connecting between said first and third chambers whereby change in pressure in the first chamber due to movement of the valve member will cause a corresponding change in pressure in the third chamber and said first and second bellows will move due to the difference in size to cause a change in pressure in the first chamber as an integrated function of change in pressure in the second chamber, and means for supplying a feedback movement to the valve member to change the progressive movement thereof initiated by change in pressure in said second chamber.

4. A pneumatic relay comprising a first chamber having an inlet orifice opening into the chamber and an outlet orifice opening from the chamber, a movable control valve member positioned to change the flow lthrough the inlet and the outlet orifices with movement, a second chamber having an inlet opening to receive an input pressure signal, a first movable wall exposed to the pressure in said rst chamber, a second movable wall having one surface exposed to the pressure in said second chamber and being of an area less than said first Wall, means forming a third closed chamber between said walls, means interconnecting said first and second walls to said valve member whereby movement of the walls will change the pressure in said first chamber by moving said valve member in a direction to cause a corresponding change in pressure for the first chamber, a signal outlet passage leading from the first chamber to a load to supply an ouptut pressure signal, and a passage communieating between said first and third chambers whereby change in pressure in said firstchamber will cause a corresponding change in said third chamber and a progressive movement of the valve member due to the difference in areas in said first and second walls whereby the pressure in the first chamber will change as an integral function of the pressure change in the second chamber.

5. A pneumatic relay comprising a first chamber hav- 7 ing an inlet orifice opening into the chamber and an outlet orifice opening from the chamber, a movable control valve member positioned to change the flow through the inlet and the outlet orifices with movement, a second chamber having an inlet opening to receive `an input pressure signal, a first movable wall exposed to the pressure in said first chamber, a second movable wall having one surface exposed to the pressure in said second chamber and being of an area less than said first wall, means forming a third closed chamber between said walls, means interconnecting said first and second walls to said valve member whereby movement of the walls will change the pressure in said first chamber by moving said valve member in `a direction to cause a corresponding Vchange in pressure for the first chamber, a signal outlet passage leading from the first chamber to a load to supply an output pressure signal, a passage communicating between said first and third chamber whereby change in pressure in said first chamber will cause a corresponding change in said third chamber and a progressive movement of the val-vemember due to the difference in areas in said first and second walls whereby the pressure in the first chamber will change as an integral function of the pressure change in the second chamber, and an adjustable restricting valve in said passage to selectively control the rate of fiow therethrough whereby the time constant of the integrated rate of change in pressure in the first chamber is controlled.

6. A pressure relay comprising in combination a casing defining a first chamber having an inlet orifice opening into the chamber and an outlet orifice opening from the chamber with saidorifices positioned in opposition to each other, a valve flapper pivotally mounted within said chamber and having a free end movably positioned between said inlet and outlet orifices to simultaneously change the flow through said orifices with movement therebetween, a first movable Wall having one surface eX- posed to the pressure in said first chamber, a second chamber defined Within said casing and having an inlet opening to receive an input pressure signal, a second movable wall having a cross-sectional area less than said first movable wall and having a surface exposed to `the second chamber, means sealing said walls to form a third chamber therebetween, means mechanically connecting said first and second walls to each other and to an end of the valve fiapper whereby movement of the walls with change in pressure in said chambers will change the position of said apper with respect to the inlet and outlet orifices, a fourth chamber within said casing provided with a movable wall mechanically interconnected to 'said apper to act in opposition to said first and second walls with pressure change in the fourth chamber, a pressure signal outlet from the first chamber for controlling a load, a pressure feedback signal opening for leading Vfrom the load and communicating with said fourth chamber whereby 'a feedback pressure signal is translated into mechanical movement 'to adjust the position of the valve fiapper with operation of the load, and a conduit connected between said first and vthird chamber whereby change in pressure in the first chamber will cause a corresponding change in pressur in the third chamber to cause 'simultaneous movement of the first and second walls due to the difference in larea between said walls whereby the valve flapper will be moved and pressure within the first chamber will change as an integrated function of a pressure change in the second chamber.

7. A pneumatic relay comprising a first chamber having an inlet orifice opening into the chamber and an outlet orifice opening from the chamber, a movable control valve member positioned to change the fiow through said inlet and outlet orifices with movement, a second chamber having an inlet opening to receive an input pressure signal, a first movable wall having one surface exposed to the pressure in said first chamber, a second movable wall having one surface exposed `to the pressure in said second chamber, means forming a third closed chamber 4with the other surface or said second wall exposed to said third chamber, means interconnecting said rst and vsecond walls to said valve member whereby movement of the walls will change the pressure in said first chamber by moving said valve member in a direction to cause a corresponding change in pressure in the first chamber, a signal outlet passage leading from the first chamber to supply an output pressure signal, a feedback passage communicating between said first and third chambers with said feedback passage being the solo opening into said third chamber whereby change in pressure lin said first chamber will cause a corresponding change in said third chamber, and an adjustable restricting valve in said feedback passage to selectively control the rate of fiow therethrough so that the time constant of the rate of change in pressure in the third chamber due to change in the first chamber is control-led.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,117,800 Harrison et a1. May 17, 1938 2,202,485 Fitch May 28, 1940 2,301,301 Mallory Nov. 10, 1942 2,712,321 Grogan July 5, 1955 2,767,725 Long Oct. 23, 1956 2,829,663 Freeman et al. Apr. 8, 1958 

